Jesus’ life was marked by His unconditional love and service toward others
Evidence of faith is hard to find. Let’s go through the criteria for true faith. Then we can look at and judge ourselves instead of others.
Let’s look at the prevalence of people who call themselves Christian. We are told clearly in Scripture that not all who say “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Using the name of Jesus to divide people is certainly not evidence of faith. Demanding that people become Christian is not evidence of faith. Christian nationalism, claiming a country must be Christian, is not evidence of faith. Using religious influence to overpower people or make them do what we want is not evidence of faith. Even giving away everything we have, but without love, is not evidence of faith. In fact, Jesus warned us that those who claim to have faith but don’t live it out are hypocrites, whitened sepulchers. If that is who we are, then Jesus will not find faith on the earth.
Jesus’ life was marked by the basin and the towel — by His service. At the Last Supper, while sharing a meal with those who would betray and deny Him, He washed their feet. His service and love for others was not conditioned on the choices they made. Jesus spoke freely with those who loved and those who didn’t. He accompanied those who were considered unclean and therefore thought to be undeserving of God’s love or inclusion in the community of the beloved. Is our faith turned into action in that way? Jesus welcomed strangers into His company, even those from regions looked down upon. Does our faith in action look like that? Jesus died for every single person, no matter the condition of their lives. Do we have faith enough to live in that way? Regular Mass attendance and regular prayer are tools to nurture and sustain our faith, but without love, they are empty gestures.
We are sometimes so quick to judge others since it is less painful or convicting to find the fault in others rather than ourselves. An examination of the condition of our faith could be discouraging, or it could be the point at which we choose to live authentically.
Faith in God is not simply an individual lifestyle but a communal action. Believing in what is not seen, the fulfillment of the kingdom of God, needs to be translated into action.
It takes true and deep faith to love your enemy. We read it in the Bible, but living like Jesus takes true faith. We hear that empty is better than full, poor is better than rich and the position of powerlessness is better than being powerful. Just the thought of living that way turns most of us into nominal Christians.
Then who can be saved? The disciples of Jesus asked the same question. Only those who hear the Word of God and keep it will be saved. We all have so far to go in terms of being faithful Christians. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. Find a way today to live out our faith, not just mouth the words and look good in front of other people.
